Microaggressions at work

Microaggressions in the workplace can manifest as negative, violent, or discriminatory behaviors that subtly take root in the work environment.

Microaggressions can be related to an individual's or group's ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. These comments can have a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of those targeted. They can also affect performance and engagement.

Insidious Behaviors

But it's not just comments. There are also condescending looks, contemptuous gestures, and stereotypes. These actions, whether conscious or inadvertent, can include:

• Comments related to physical appearance and/or clothing, emphasizing differences or nonconformity.
• Remarks about pronunciation or language proficiency.
• Remarks about family situation or marital status suggesting discrimination based on sex, age, or sexual orientation.
• Offensive remarks about identity, ability, or values ​​that suggest discrimination or intolerance.

The Impacts

These examples are not exhaustive, but they illustrate the variety of behaviors that can constitute microaggressions in the workplace. These can have detrimental consequences on mental health and self-esteem, and can generate significant anxiety. Microaggressions can also affect:

• Work engagement
• Sense of belonging
• Performance
• Desire to remain with the company long-term

To foster a pleasant, respectful, and rewarding work environment, whether you are a manager or an employee, it is crucial to be informed about the many forms that microaggressions can take. This can include training staff on how to identify and avoid microaggressions, and implementing workplace civility policies that address discrimination, violence, and harassment in all its forms.

In short, while it is the employer's responsibility to provide a microaggression-free environment, it is up to each individual to ensure they live their daily life in a healthy environment.

Sources:

https://aptsq.com/dossiers-de-l-heure/micro-aggression/

https://www.ydesfemmesmtl.org/microaggressions-en-milieu-professionnel/

Sue, Derald Wing. “Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation.” John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010.

LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company, “Women in the Workplace 2020” report.

Harvard Business Review, “Diversity and Authenticity” report.